May 21st - Friday

This morning we went to the pre-school. Raphael was pretty much a “rock star”. I think he really likes the attention. He will wonder why people are not as excited about him when we get home I think! Heather read the kids a story, and then we did some game with them where they had to find the person who had the same animal card as them. It took them a really long time to catch on, but they had a good time anyway! I think their favorite part was when Mike and I imitated all the animal sounds. What does a giraffe make for sound? Ask Mike when you see him :) Oh and the ostrich? Yeah, we had to improvise ;) We finished our time there with some coloring lesson, trying to teach them the number 10. I don’t think we were very successful. he he.

We also lead the orphan program. About 14 kids came and we had a blast. We played soccer with them, which is always a hit!!! I broke my big toe nail, but that’s not too surprising, that ball was VERY hard. Mike and I did a lesson on Daniel and the lion’s den, including the kids in the drama and I think they really liked it! I had a little princess crown for the king (so funny), but those kids don’t really have the same concept of “girly” and “boyish” like we do at home so I don’t know what they thought of it. The boys here like to wear pink because it looks good on them :) And they also wanted their nails painted. Really, why not? Who says that’s a girl thing? I LOVE IT!!! They have not being corrupted by our over sexualized culture and it’s so refreshing. I can nurse in front of teenage boys and it’s not an issue. How freeing is that? I’d say pretty freeing (and all the nursing mothers say “amen”).

They also did really well with the memory verse. At first they were trying to repeat it in English, but we got through to them that they had to repeat after the translator. We tried to join in with their language and that made them laugh quite a bit. Hope we didn’t say anything bad!!!

We also did a lion’s mask craft with them and they just loved it!!! Picture this: a 16 years old boy coloring a lion’s face picture, putting strings through it, and putting on his face as a mask. He PROUDLY left with it on after the program. I was a bit shocked by his enthusiasm, but again, how refreshing is that? This boy doesn’t have the pressure of trying to act cool the way we have in North America. He has so little “stuff” in his life, and this lion mask was “the bomb”. I wish I had a picture of him to show you!!! We have so much “stuff” at home it’s ridiculous. It takes so little to entertain those kids, it is shocking. Oh and get this, most of those kids had never used scissors so we had to do the cutting for them. Things we take for granted right?

Our shower had some issues today, the peas from the kitchen sink ended up there. It was kindda gross, but we got it all cleaned up (you could have had a pea-bath in there). But then the shower head started leaking everywhere. I guess around here either you don’t have plumbing, or you do and it doesn’t really work how it’s supposed to!! he he. Anyway, to get hot water, you have to build a fire (outside off course), underneath the water tank. We love our hot water and feel so blessed to have such luxury here. Today we decided to use the fire to also make some burgers. Why not? There is nothing better than something cooked on fire. I’m thinking of building an outside kitchen when we get home... I guess it would not be very practical in Manitoba! Good night folks.